Setting means for endless type members



H. 1. LIPPARD SETTING MEANS FOR ENDLESS TYPE MEMBERS Sept. 25, 1951 Filed Sept. 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l 65 77 77 a I I (lal7 7g 75 3 77 L INVENTOR.

fiERMAN L/PPARD A rramwsra l aten teci Sept. 25, 1951 SETTING, sronmn'nnss TYPE MEMB S? Herman It Lippard, Laiie Worth,- Fla; Application September 3, 19 47, Serial No, 771,976 fi -Glaimsr (01. 101-111 The invention relates to tag or ticket printmg devices, and is in the nature of an improvement on the tag printing device disclosed; in my prior Patent No. 2,103,752 issued December 28," 1937. This application is a continuation-in-part of ap: plication Serial No. 511,674 filed November 5,

t 1943, now abandoned.

Briefly stated, the device of my prior patent consists essentially of a base upon which one or more type-carrying frames are mounted for reciprocation toward and away from the printing surface. These frames are of substantially flat form disposed with their planes substantially perpendicular to the printing surface, and carry a line of changeable characters on their lower ends, said line of characters constituting the printing type. Each character is one of a number of characters carried by a strip offlexible material mounted in a suitable manner on, each of the frames, the characters being changeable by moving the flexible strips. The frames are pivoted about a horizontal axis perpendicular to their planes so that they may be swungaway from the base to facilitate changing of thetypel The present invention is directed particularly to means for facilitating changing the typ e,.i. type-setting. In order clearly to disclose the in-, vention without unnecessary details, theinyem tion will be illustrated in the form of a simplified device having a single type-carrying frame.

Referring briefly to the accompanying draw: mgs:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a preferred and illustrative embodiment of the invention, part bej ing broken away;

Figure 2 is a plan view;

Figure 3 is a view taken on line 3'3 o fFig ure 1, part being broken away;

Figure 4 is a detail of a type-carrying. frame, with parts broken away to reveal internal. con! struction;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showingthe relationship of the type-carrying frame and the means for swinging the frame to and away, from the base; 4

Figure 6 is a front elevation of an alternate embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the embodiment of Figure 6 with portions broken away, and a Figure 8 is a sectional view along the line of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the letter T designates a table top or other suit: able'supportfor the device. The tag or ticket ma eforward to form a projecting arm 12. 'Secu ed 2\ to be printed uponmay be ofuany conventional form and neednot be described. 7

The base portion of the device is denotedgenerally by the'numeral I, and is shown as having the general form of an inverted U, the legs of which are indicated by 2 and 3, and the yoke portion by 4;. Secured to the yoke portion 4' is a cylindrical tubing 5, through which; extends a reciprocatable plunger 5; Telescopically mounted on the tubing 5 is a cylindricalcasing 1 which serves as a handle to reciprocate the plunger 6'. Suitable means (n-otshown) maybe provided to maintain the plunger thermally in its uppermost position, and to return the handle to said position when pressure on-the handle 1 is removed.

The numeral a 'denotes a vertical plate mounted on the front of the'base I so as to move up and down with the plunger {when the, handle 1 is reciprocated; Mounted between the legs 2 and 3 of the base I is an inking pad 1? of suitable form, which is normally maintained with its upper or inking surface against the face of the type on the lower end of "the type-carrying frame, and which is so mounted'so as to swing out of the. way of the type-carrying frame as the frame is moved toward the tag or ticket. The connections between the reciprocating plunger d and the vertical plate 8 and between said plunger and the inking pad do not constitute parts of this invention, and hence are not shown. Reference is hereby made to Figure 2 of lfatent No. 2,103,752, wherein is illustrated suitable form of'mounting for the inking pad. The vertical plate 8 may be connected to the reciprocatable plunger (i in substantially the same manner as the housing 2 in Figure 2 of said drawing is connected to the, reciprocatable plunger lQl.

' Hingedly connected to the plate a; at 9 is a second vertical plate I Which is adapted to be swung about the hinge 9 into and out of contact with the plate 8. The normal position of the plate 10 is against the plate 8, the pivotal'movement rendering it possible to swing "the printing plates and the associated structure iiqfi} z ontally away from the base, whenever itis de,- sired, as for instance when repairs are to be The plate It] may be securednnnor mally closed position with reference toplate 8 by means of a latch ll, pivotally securedto'th plate 8. l The end of plate I0 qpposite hinge 9 is bent te a d aw r w lqs l stated were the Band 14'. The numeral l5 denotes the type- This latch member is pivotally supported between the plates I3 and I4, and has a hook at one end extended to engage a pin 2I on frame I5. The opposite end 22 of the, latch member projects to the right for a purpose which will appear later. A spring 23 urges the latch member in a counterclockwise direction so as to lock the frame I5 in position A. I

Reference numerals 24 and 25 denote two horizontal track members secured to the outer side of the projecting arm I2 in parallel vertical relationship, and provided with opposing slots '26 and 21. Secured to the outer side of thearm I2 midway between the members 24 and 251s a gear rack 23. A carriage denoted by the numeral 30 is slidably mounted on the track members 24 and 25 by means of the vertical plate M, which is received in the slots 26 and 21.

Secured to the vertical plate 3| of the carriage 36 is an L-shaped bracket 32, the vertical leg being denoted by 32 and the horizontal leg by 32". Rotatably mounted on the upper end of the vertical leg 32 is a key 33 having the diametrically opposite projections 34, and being in axial alinement with the bushing I1. The projections 34 of the key 33 are adapted to be engaged with the slots I8, and when so engaged the type frame can be turned about the ear I6 to the position B by rotation of the key 33. The outer or free end of the key may be'provided as shown with an operating knob 35 for easy manipulation.

Reference numeral 36 designates a narrow rod rotatably mounted parallel to the key 33 in the carriage 30 in a suitable manner, and provided at its outer end with an operating handle 31. Fixedly secured to said rod is a cam 38, provided on one side with a projecting ear 39. Said ear is adapted to engage between the plates I3 and I4, when alined therewith and rotated counter clockwise b means of the handle 31.

The reference numeral 40 denotes a vertical rod slidably mounted through the horizontal leg 32{ of the bracket 32 below the cam 38. The rod is urged upwardly against the cam by means of a spring 4|. When the rod 36 is rotated counterclockwise, the high side of the cam is brought into contact with the rod 4I, urging it downwardly against the pressure of the spring 4I. When the projecting ear of the cam 38 is alined between the plates I3 and I4, the rod 40 is directly above the end 22 of latch member I9. Hence, counter-clock rotation of the rod 36 serves to lock the carriage 30 with its attendant mechanism against relative movement with respect to the type-carrying frame I5, and unlocks the latch member which normally holds said frame against turning movement. This last action is accomplished when rod 40, being pressed down by cam 38, depresses the free end 22 of latch member I3, thereby turning the latch member and disengaging the hook I9 from pin 2I on plate I5. At this described position of the carthe upper and lower ends.

the projections 34 of the key 33 into engagement- Hence, by turning the knob clockwise, the type frame I5 is turnedwith slots I8 of bushing I1.

to position B shown in Figure 1.

The numerals and 46 respectivel denote a narrow tube and a rod which extend in hori-- zontally spaced relation from the carriage 30.

Mounted for slidable movement on the tube 45' and rod 46 is a U-shaped member 41. The U-; shaped member may advantageously be providedwith a tubular bushing 46 to receive the rod 46, thereby providing greater rigidity. Notches 49 may be provided on the tube 45, and a. spring 50 may be secured to the U-shaped member so as to'engage in any selected notch, thereby securing the U-shaped member in a desired position against accidental displacement.

A shaft 5| extends through the tube 45. The outer end of the shaft is provided with a knob 52, and the inner end thereof is provided with a gear 53, which meshes with the gear rack 28 on the arm I2. It will be understood that the entire carriage 30 can be moved horizontally on the track members 24 and 25 by simply turning the knob 52. It will also be understood that when the projecting ear 39 of cam 38 is in engagement with the vertical plates I3 and I4, the type frame I5 is in alinement with the space between the legs and 56 of the U-shaped member 41, and can be turned by means of knob 35 to position B of Figure 1 between said legs.

slidably mounted on each of the legs 55 and 56 is a sleeve or finger piece 51. They are each constructed of a narrow U-shaped piece of metal 60, closed off b a serrated strip 6I riveted or brazed in place, and are provided with a flat friction spring 62 riveted inside the member at the bottom of the U. These springs hold the sleeves or finger pieces on the legs wherever they are placed.

The U-shaped member 41 and the slidable sleeves or finger pieces 51 constitute mechanical means for setting the type on the type-carrying frame I5.

' The construction of the type-carrying frame is shown in detail in Figure 4. This frame is constructed of two thin rectangular plates 65 and 66 separated by spacers 61. The ear I6 previously referred to is secured between the plates 65 and 66 above the horizontal center line, and projects to one side as shown. The frame I5 is provided as shown in Figure 1 and at the lower part of Figure 4 with a number of parallel closely spaced type-bands L, which extend vertically about both flat faces of the frame and over As many type-bands as necessary within the width of the frame may be used. The type-bands are preferabl of an elastic material such as rubber and carry all the characters necessary for a particular purpose, as for instance, the printing of price tags in a department store.

' As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the type-carrying frame is provided with means to hold the typebands taut about the frame while permitting each of the bands to be selectively shifted to bring any desired character into printing position. These means preferably consist of a plurality of rods 68 mounted vertically between the plates 65 and 66, and extending above the upper edge thereof. There are as many rods as lines of type. The rods 66 terminate at the upper ends in bearing blocks 69 provided with lipped sides 10'to retain the type-bands L. The rods have a riage 30, the bracket 32 is so located as to bring 7 rectangular upper portion H and a circular lower ascents portion I2, terminating in a hook I3. Guide pins l4 are'provided between the plates 65 and 65 on each side of each rod. A horizontal plate I5 spans the space between the plates 65 and 66 at the top of the type-carrying frame I5, and is provided with apertures IE to receive the rods 68. The rods are pressed upwardly by springs 'I'I coiled about the circular lower portions I2. The pins 14 and the apertures I6 guide the rods in their vertical movement. Rotation of the rods is prevented by the fact that both they and the apertures 10' are rectangular. Contact of the hooked lower ends of the rods with the guide pins I4 limits the upward movement of the rods. It is to be noted that the rods 68 do not all extend the same amount above the upper edge of the frame I5. They preferably alternate in the amount of extension, every other one extending the same amount. Hence, it is possible to overlap the bearing blocks 69 and thereby bring the rods 08 closer together, so that the endless type-bands are in substantial contact.

When the type frame I5 is in position A, the bottom thereof presents a changeable line of type, each character thereof constituting an element of one of the type-bands L. This line of type can be brought down against a tag or ticket positioned on the support T so as to print a line of characters (letters and/or numerals) thereon by reciprocating the plunger I. Ink is provided by the inking pad P, which, as previously stated, is normally maintained with its inking surface, against the face of the type, and which is mounted so asto swing out of the way of the type frame as the frame is moved toward the support T.

When the type frame is in position B, it is inverted so that the line of printing type is in full clear View, thereby greatly simplifying the task 'slidable sleeves can be readily understood by reference to Figures 1 and 5. When the type frame I5 is in type-setting position indicated by dotted lines (position B), it is straddled by U-shaped member 07. This member may be shifted horizontally along the tube 45 and the rod 40 into alinement with any desired type-band L. The type-band can then be moved to bring a desired character to the printing edge by pressing the sleeves or finger pieces 51 against the type-frame and moving one of them upwardly and the other downwardly at the same time. The serrated surfaces 0| serve to move the type-band L against the pressure of the springs 11 (Figure 4) In actual operation, it has been found that two sleeves or finger pieces are essential, in order to provide the push-.pull-action, which is necessary to shift the type-bands. The U-shaped member can be moved from one type-band to the next, as one type-band after the other is shifted to bring a desired character into printing position, i. e. on .the printing edge of .theframe.

It is to be understood that while only one type frame is illustrated, a plurality of them can be mounted on plates similar to I3 and I4 along the projecting arm +2. The U-shaped member 41 can then be moved from one frame to another by to the desired frame,'locki rig the carriage in such position by rotating'the handle 31, and simultaneously unlocking'the attendant latch I8 of the desired frame. The projections 34 of key 33 can then be engaged with the slotted bushing I! of the desired frame, and the desired frame turned to position B between legs of yoke 41 by rotating the handle 35.

An alternative form of deviceembodying the type-setting mechanism of the invention is shown in Figures 6, '7 and 8. This device is illustrated as being a single line hand type printer, and comprises an inverted -U-shaped frame I00 formed of a strip'offlat metal. The horizontal portion of the U is denoted by IOI and the two legs by I02 and I 03." A handle (not shown) may be fitted to portion IOI if desired. At the extremities of the legs I02 and I03 are retaining springs I04 to secure the type frame, which is noted by I 5, in position. This frame may advantageously be of the same structure as the corresponding frame I5 in the first embodiment, and is provided with exactly similar parallel closely spaced type-bands L. The inside surfaces of legs I02 and I03 are provided with grooves I05 and I06 respectively. Said grooves are adapted to receive the type frame I5, and terminate at points I01 and I08, respectively, so determined as to leave the printing surface I09 of type frame projecting below the legs I02 and' I03. A space indicated by I I0, is also provided above the type frame.

The reference numerals H2 and H3 designate two cross-bars parallel to the plane of the typecarrying frame I5. These cross-bars are supported, one on each side of the device, by tabs or projections denoted by H I, which are secured to the legs I02 and I03 somewhat below the horizontal portion IOI of the U-shaped frame. Securing means such as nuts I I4 fasten these crossbars rigidly in place. The cross-bar H2 is provided with'notches II 5 cut at regularly spaced intervals along its uppermost side for a purpose to be hereinafter pointed out.

A yoke H6 is mounted on the cross-bars H2 and I I3 with its plane perpendicular to the plane of the U-shaped frame I00 by means of the bearing blocks I I1 and I I8 for slidable movement in a direction parallel to the type frame I5. Bearing block II! is provided with a spring H 9, secured thereto asat I20, which spring is adapted to engage in anyone of the notches H5 in the crossbar H2. The location and spacing. of these notches are such as to cause the bearing blocks to be alined with any desired type-band carried by the type frame I5.

At this point, it is to be noted that yoke I I6 is an inverted U-shaped element having its closed or round end I2I passing through the space l i-0 between the U-shaped frame I00 and the type frame I5, and that the legs I2 2 of the yoke critend downwardly over the f-rontand back faces of the type frame I5 and" through the supporting bearing blocks II I and I I8. Becauseof the described structure, the yoke -I-I-6 may be brought 'into alinement with any particular type-band, when it is desired to shift said band so as to bring a particular character to the printing surfaceI 09-0f the type frame I 5.

Slidably mounted on the legs I22 of the yoke III; are two identical sleeves or finger pieces 5-1, which are substantially identical with the sleeves 51 previously described with reference to the firstembodiment. They are each constructed of a narrow U-shaped member 60 closed off by a serrated'strip "61 suitably secured in place, and,

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7 are provided with a flat friction spring 62' riveted inside the member 60' at the bottom of the U. These springs 62' serve to hold the sleeves'or finger pieces on the legs wherever they are placed.

The type bands L may be shifted in the following manner: The yoke H6 is first positioned in alinement with the type-band to be changed, by sliding the bearing blocks H1 and H8 over the rods I I2 and I I3 respectively to the desired position. The spring I I9 is lifted clear of the notches H during the moving operation, and permitted to engage with the notch H5 which centers the said yoke in alinement with the desired typeband. Then by urging the spring held sleeves 51' inward against the pressure of springs 62', the serrations of elements 6| are caused to engage with the type-band to be moved. One of the sleeves or finger holds 51' is then moved upwardly and the opposite one is moved downwardly, until the desired character on the type-band L is brought to the printing surface 109 of the device.

It will be understood in conclusion that the foregoing disclosure is illustrative and not restrictive of the invention.

1 claim:

1. In a tag printing device, the combination of a base, a frame of flat form mounted on said base with its plane substantially perpendicular to the printing surface, a series of spaced endless bands passing about both flat faces of the frame and over both ends, a series of characters carried by each of the endless bands, the line of characters on one end of the frame constituting the printing type, means for mounting said frame so that it may be swung to and away from the printing surface, and means associated with said base and operative when the frame is swung away from the printing surface to move the endless bands so as to present a desired line of characters on the printing end of the frame, said last mentioned means consisting of a U-shaped element to receive the frame between its arms when said frame is swung away from the printing surface, and means carried by each of said arms and adapted to contact and to shift a selected endless band on said frame to bring a desired character into printing position on the printing end of the frame. v

2. In a tag printing device, the combination of a base, a frame of flat form mounted on said base with its plane substantially perpendicular to the printing surface, a series of spaced endless bands passing about both flat faces of the frame and over both ends, a series of characters carried by each of the endless bands, the line of characters on one end of the plate constituting the printing type, means for mounting the frame so that it may be swung to and away from the printing surface, and means operative when the frame is swung away from the printing surface to move the endless bands so as to present a desired line of characters on the printing end of the frame, said last mentioned means consisting of a U-shaped element to receive the frame between its arms when the frame is swung away fromits perpendicular relationship, and a finger piece slidably mounted on each of the arms of said element, said finger pieces being adapted to contact and to shift a selected endless band on said frame to bring a desired character into printing position on the printing end of the frame.

3. A type-carrying frame consisting of a hol lowed plate member of substantially flat form, a plurality of rods extending from one end of, said plate member, spring means within the hollowed portion of said plate member urging said rods away from the end of said plate member, a bearing member secured to the outer end of each of said rods, a series of spaced endless bands, each of said bands passing about both flat faces of said plate member, over one of said bearing members and over the end of said plate member opposite said bearing members, a series of characters carried by each of said bands, the line of characters on the end of said plate member opposite the bearing members constituting the printing type, said spring means serving to hold said bands taut.

4. The type-carrying frame defined in claim 3, the adjacent rodsextending different amounts beyond the end of said frame, thereby enabling the endless bands to be positioned closely together.

, 5. 'Adevice for setting an endless type member,

said device comprising a pair of parallel arms adapted to receive the type member between them, a finger piece slidably mounted on each of said arms, spring means between each of said finger pieces and its supporting arm to hold said finger pieces out of contact with opposite portions of said type member and to permit said finger pieces to be brought manually into contact with said type member, said finger pieces when brought into contact with said type member being adapted conjointly to shift said type member. thereby bringing a desired character into printing position.

6. In a tag printing device, wherein the lines of type are in the form of endless bands carried by a flat frame, means for moving the endless bands so as to present a desired line of printing characters, said means comprising a pair of connected parallel arms adapted to receive said frame between them, said arms being mounted on said device for slidable movement transversely of said bands and being adapted to be positioned in juxtaposition to a selected band, a finger piece slidably mounted on each of said arms, spring means between each of said finger pieces and its supportingarm to hold said finger pieces out of contact with opposite portions of the juxtaposed band and to permit said finger pieces to be brought manually into contact with the opposite portions of the juxaposed band, said finger pieces when brought into contact with the juxtaposed band being adapted conjointly to shift said band, thereby bringing a desired character into printing position.

HERMAN I. LIPPARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of thispatent:

. UNITED STATES PATENTS 

